The Last Frontier: Exploring the Afterlife and Transforming Our Fear of Death Julia Assante. New World Library, $15.95 trade paper (416p) ISBN 978-1-60868-160-0 Death. We fear it, we plan for it, we do all we can to forestall its coming. And yet, neither faith nor science can keep death from grabbing hold of each one of us. Social historian Assante, who is also a medium, has penned what may be the most important book on the enigma of death since the groundbreaking work of Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. Some will disagree with Assante’s conclusions that there is life after death, and that the living can communicate with those who have passed on. She buttresses her arguments with numerous accounts of near-death experiences and reported communication with the dead. Add to this a concise but fascinating survey of how the ancients viewed death, the nature of sin and salvation, and the pervasive belief in reincarnation, and the result is a body of evidence that merits serious discussion. All of this culminates in a fascinating question: “What would the world be like without the fear of death?” Perhaps a world filled with loving, nurturing, positive, life-affirming people? An outstanding read. (Nov.) viaReligion Review: The Last Frontier: Exploring the Afterlife and Transforming Our Fear of Death by Julia Assante. New World Library, $15.95 trade paper (416p) ISBN 978-1-60868-160-0.